The most recent congressional special election was in April 2008 to replace the late Rep. Tom Lantos: Overall turnout was about 25 percent but turnout on election day was less than 7 percent.

Weir is among a growing number of election officials who would like Legislature to pass a law that would allow counties the option to hold mail-only elections if turnout is expected to be low. It costs a fortune to put on a precinct-based election where so few people show up at the polls, and money is especially tight in county coffers these days.

Contra Costa faces the prospect of two or more special elections this year in addition to the May 19 statewide election. An election to replace Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Alamo, will likely occur sometime this summer and if voters select someone who occupied a legislative seat, a subsequent special election will be needed to replace him or her.

I know Orinda is unusual but in our school parcel tax special election last month we had an overall turnout of 59% and 81% came by mail.

It is such a waste of taxpayer money to have fully staffed polling place where few go.

There is a middle ground: allow local governments to call for a hybrid all mail election where ballots are sent to everyone but allow for a few ‘final day’ drop-off locations. This would also allow provisional voting if someone losses their ballot.

In this option, I could see having one drop-off location in Orinda rather than 7 polling stations. We would get 85% of an efficiency and we would still please the ‘old school’ voter who likes to personally vote (drop their ballot).

Michael F. Sarabia

Maybe that is their intent and purpose and let the banks take the hindmost?